Your Friendly Neighborhood Music Critic

Miley Cyrus – Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz

It’s to no surprise really. Sure, we didn’t know when it was going to be released it, but I think it’s safe to say we all knew that it was eventually going to happen. After the VMA’s performance, which was shadowed by her & Nicki’s little feud, planned or not, the nip-slip, and Kanye’s rant and presidential 2020 campaign announcement, she went ahead and dropped it – her fiftth album, Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz. Sure, I didn’t watch the VMA’s, but I’m sure it looked as dumb as the Meek vs. Drake feud, with a hint of planning from television producers.

What I do know however, is that Miley Cyrus and Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips are like, friends now? Back on The Flaming Lips last project, With A Little Help from My Fwends, where they covered all of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles, collaborators included that of My Morning Jacket, Dr. Dog, Moby, Phantogram, Tegan and Sara, Foxygen, and you guessed it, Miley Cyrus, on two tracks, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “A Day In The Life.” This unusual partnership continued apparently, and has the heaviest influence on Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz.

Naturally, her label, RCA, wasn’t having it. Funded herself and released for free streaming online, this 23-track drug-sex album is just straight ridiculous. When it’s not about blatant drug use or sex, it’s oddly about, “a string of pets owned by Cyrus or friends of Cyrus that have since died.” Not to mention that the music of the record is only great because of Wayne Coyne, of which I would have way rather heard finish “Karen Don’t Be Sad” here instead of Miley’s drug-infused crone. Big Sean even sounds like he just woke up from a crazy party, still hungover, and just says some meaningless slurs.

It doesn’t even have the charm or youthful energy that “We Can’t Stop” had, where it appeared okay over the catchy pop production and repetitive nature. Here it just sounds concerning, she seems insane at some points. Not that she always hasn’t as of late, but it’s just a new level up from twerking on Robin Thicke with teddy bears that should’ve come down instead of up.